Wow, this thread is exactly what I needed to find! I'm also a NJ tax newbie (just moved here from Florida where there's no state income tax - what a shock this whole process has been!) and filed on March 14th. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both comforting and terrifying - I had no idea NJ was notorious for these incredibly long wait times! I've been checking that status page almost daily since filing and getting increasingly worried that something was wrong. Now I realize that "in process" status might as well say "check back in 3 months" 😅 Based on @Avery Davis's super helpful breakdown and everyone else's timelines, it sounds like I shouldn't expect anything until late June or July. I claimed the Earned Income Credit and have some rental property income, so I'm probably in the "additional scrutiny" category. At least now I can stop obsessing over the status checker and just accept that this is how the Garden State rolls. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community has saved my sanity! Here's to hoping we all get our refunds before the next tax season starts! 🤞

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm also a NJ newbie (moved from Texas last year) and filed on March 18th. In Texas there's no state income tax, so this whole waiting game is completely foreign to me. I've been refreshing that status page like it's going to magically update with good news, but after reading everyone's experiences here, I realize I need to just chill and accept that NJ operates on geological time when it comes to refunds! 😅 I claimed the property tax deduction and have some investment income, so based on @Avery Davis's incredibly helpful breakdown, I'm probably looking at summer 2025 before I see anything. It's honestly both frustrating and oddly comforting to know this is just "how things work" in the Garden State rather than something being wrong with my return. Thanks to everyone for sharing - this community solidarity is getting me through the wait! Now I just need to forget about that money until it magically appears in my account someday... 🎩✨

I went through this exact same confusion when I started my new job last year! The key thing to understand is that the new W4 is actually designed to be more accurate than the old allowances system, but it does require a bit more work upfront. Here's what I learned: The old "claim 0" was basically a hack to overwithhold taxes, but it wasn't very precise. The new system lets you be much more targeted. My advice is to start with the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator first - it's free and gives you a good baseline. Then, if you want to be extra safe (like you were with claiming 0), just add an additional $25-50 per paycheck in Step 4(c) on top of what the estimator suggests. This way you'll still get that nice refund you're used to, but you won't be giving the government an interest-free loan for more than necessary. I did this approach and ended up with a $3,400 refund last year, which was right in line with what I used to get with the old system. The peace of mind is totally worth it!

The transition from the old W4 system definitely threw me for a loop too when I switched jobs! Here's what worked for me after a lot of trial and error: I started by using the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator, but honestly found it a bit confusing with all the different scenarios. What really helped was looking at my previous year's tax return to see exactly how much was withheld versus what I actually owed. For example, if you normally got a $3,500 refund, that means you had about $3,500 more withheld than you needed to pay in taxes. To replicate that with the new W4, I divided that overpayment by my number of paychecks per year. So $3,500 ÷ 26 paychecks = roughly $135 extra per paycheck to put in Step 4(c). I also learned that you can always submit a new W4 to your payroll department if you need to adjust - it's not set in stone! I actually tweaked mine twice in my first year as I got a better feel for how it was working out. Don't be afraid to start conservative and adjust as needed. The peace of mind of knowing you won't owe money at tax time is totally worth the extra effort of figuring out the new system!

dont overlook the local zoning rules!! my neighbor got a $5000 fine because our neighborhood wasnt zoned for accessory dwelling rentals. had to kick out tenants and everything. check with ur city planning dept before u do anything!!!

Great thread everyone! As someone who's been through this exact situation, I want to emphasize a few key points: 1. **Federal taxes**: No business license needed for rental income - you'll use Schedule E on your personal return. The IRS treats most rental activity as passive investment income. 2. **Local requirements**: This is where it gets tricky. Even if you don't need anything for taxes, you may still need: - Rental permits/licenses from your city/county - Zoning compliance (as Emma mentioned - this is HUGE!) - Safety inspections for rental units - Business registration if your area requires it 3. **Insurance**: Definitely get landlord insurance before your first tenant moves in. Regular homeowners won't cover rental activities. 4. **Record keeping**: Start tracking everything NOW - receipts, mileage for property visits, renovation costs, etc. Good records will save you headaches at tax time. Since you mentioned the unit is currently vacant while renovating, this is actually perfect timing to get all your ducks in a row before you start actively renting again. I'd recommend calling your city's planning department first to confirm zoning, then checking on any local rental requirements. The tax stuff is actually the easier part!

Same here from NJ - filed mid-February and still stuck on "return received" 😤 Starting to wonder if I should just expect it sometime next year at this rate. The whole system feels like it's running on dial-up internet from 2005

NJ filer here too and honestly this whole situation is a nightmare. Filed in late January and I'm still showing "return received" with zero movement. At this point I've given up checking daily because it just makes me more frustrated. The worst part is not knowing if there's actually an issue or if it's just the normal backlog everyone keeps talking about.

I'm sorry you're going through this stressful situation. Based on what others have shared here, keeping the money in Cash App and using their debit card seems like your safest bet right now. The IRS levy is specific to your bank account, so funds that never touch that account should be protected. A few additional thoughts from someone who's dealt with IRS issues: **Immediate relief options:** - Use the Cash App card directly for groceries and necessities - Ask your brother to send smaller amounts over time rather than one large transfer to reduce risk - Consider having family members pay bills directly on your behalf instead of sending money **Longer-term solutions:** - Call the IRS hardship line and be very specific about your inability to afford food and basic needs - Mention any medications you need, upcoming rent/utilities due dates, etc. - The taxpayer advocate service (1-877-777-4778) can expedite hardship reviews **Important:** The IRS is legally required to leave you enough for basic living expenses. If the levy has taken everything, you have grounds for an immediate hardship release. Document your essential monthly expenses and be prepared to explain exactly how much you need and why. Don't let them intimidate you - there are protections in place for situations exactly like yours. Focus on getting that payment plan established and use these workarounds for immediate needs. You'll get through this!

I feel for your situation - having a tax levy is incredibly stressful, especially when you can't afford basic necessities. Based on the excellent advice already shared here, keeping that $600 in Cash App and using their debit card is definitely your safest option right now. The IRS levy is specific to your bank account, so money that stays in payment apps like Cash App should be protected. Here's what I'd prioritize if I were in your shoes: **Immediate needs:** Use the Cash App card directly for groceries, gas, and other essentials. Don't transfer any of it to your levied bank account. **Call the IRS ASAP:** Even though you're working on a payment plan, call their hardship line (1-800-829-1040) and explain that you literally cannot afford food and basic living expenses due to the levy. Be specific - tell them exactly how much you need for groceries this week, when your rent is due, etc. They are legally required to leave you enough for basic survival. **Document everything:** Keep track of all your essential monthly expenses (rent, utilities, food, transportation, medications) with actual dollar amounts. This will help when you speak with the IRS about hardship relief. The taxpayer advocate service (1-877-777-4778) mentioned by others can also expedite hardship reviews if the regular IRS line isn't helpful. Don't give up - there are protections in place for exactly this type of situation, and you have rights even with an active levy. Stay strong, and remember this is temporary. Once you get that payment plan established, the levy should be released and you can get back to normal banking.